Press Releases
ICYMI: Flood-Soaked New York Needs Urgent Action On Climate Now. Congress Must Act
Washington,
October 13, 2023
Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19) penned an op-ed published in The Press & Sun Bulletin / PressConnects.com on his bipartisan solution to help Upstate New York better prepare for, respond to, and prevent future flooding amid a changing climate. Press & Sun Bulletin / PressConnects.com Flood-soaked New York needs urgent action on climate now. Congress must act. By Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19) 100-year floods are supposed to happen — well, once every 100 years. That’s no longer the case. Our climate is changing, and a lost focus on resource preservation, physical infrastructure investment, and conservation-based solutions is leaving us more vulnerable than ever. In recent months, we've seen extreme weather patterns create frightening flood conditions in New Lebanon, the Hudson Valley region, and across Upstate New York. These floods have destroyed homes, businesses, entire roadways, and, tragically, taken lives. It’s not just damage, these floods are creating serious financial burdens too. In Tompkins County, flooding has become so prevalent that homeowners may soon be forced to purchase expensive flood insurance plans due to their heightened risk. Today, we are seeing how decades of underinvestment and a lack of focus and coordination have left us ill-prepared for these environmental challenges. In this critical moment, we don't need more lectures; we need decisive action. We must assess our current situation, better care for our natural resources and strengthen our physical infrastructure. One immediate step we can take is to pass the Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act, a bill I worked on with Rep. Don Davis, a Democrat, specifically tailored to support communities in Upstate New York. This legislation acknowledges that the federal government cannot merely be a reactive force after a flood disaster. We must instead proactively prepare for, respond to, and prevent floods. One immediate step we can take is to pass the Flooding Prevention, Assessment, and Restoration Act, a bill I worked on with Rep. Don Davis, a Democrat, specifically tailored to support communities in Upstate New York. This legislation acknowledges that the federal government cannot merely be a reactive force after a flood disaster. We must instead proactively prepare for, respond to, and prevent floods. Here's how my bill works:
While my bill does not claim to be a cure all to flooding and climate change — I do know that it can be an integral part of the solution. I know because I saw what worked with restoring the once badly polluted Hudson River. Through my partnership on this bipartisan effort, I learned that environmental projects succeed when they have focused support from federal, state and local leaders, engagement from the agricultural community and buy-in from everyday citizens. Preventing costly flooding, addressing climate change and preserving our planet’s natural resources, are obviously much bigger projects. But the same formula that was applied to the Hudson can also apply here. Bringing diverse partners to the table + rowing in the same direction + inspiring the public to lend a hand = making a difference. |